A little secret from Liz Pelletier with Entangled Publishing (Self-Editing Class)

Self-Editing Class

A little editors secret from Liz Pelletier, Sr. Editor, Co-Owner of Entangled Publishing:

How many times have you heard that you need to polish your manuscript until it's gleaming before sending it out the door? Armed with an almost infinite supply of caffeine, you toil over your baby for hours, cutting a few words here, changing a few words there. You diligently run spell and grammar checker over and over. You may even use a macro that points out you used the word "that" 16 times per page and smack yourself in the head. You argue with your critique partner over appropriate comma usage and dialogue tags until neither one of you can remember when to use a comma. And finally… Finally, you deem your baby ready for public consumption and send it off to your dream agent or editor.

After what seems like an eternity, you get a polite rejection in the mail claiming she just didn't "connect with your characters" or she felt your "plot was too passive" (my personal favorite) or he "didn't think your story started in the right place" or any number of things. I betno one mentioned a single thing about comma usage or redundant word choice, did they? And yet, every time we sit down to edit our manuscripts, those are the things we tend to focus on.

I'm going to share a little secret with you... Editors typically consider the mechanics of your writing only if they're truly horrible, but that's only after they decide if they can sell your story, if they love your voice. In the history of publishing, I don't think anyone has ever lost a book deal due to a missing comma or over-usage of adverbs. If you can write a story that a reader can't put down, even despite grammatical errors… Now that's a bestseller.

With that in mind, during this workshop we're going to focus on both the big picture and line edits, but we'll be focusing on concepts that will help you craft a bestseller: How to review your book through the standard three pass editing structure used by professionals, how to evaluate character growth arcs and story structure, how to peel away those bad writing habits to reveal your voice, and how to refine your writing style so a fluid and engaging story emerges.

By the end of the day, I hope everyone will have the tools they'll need to "Edit a Bestseller Like A Pro"!

Join us near New Orleans, LA. as we learn from Entangled Publishing co-founder and editor Liz Pelletier. Registration information is here. Early registration prices have been extended until June 10th.  Class is on June 22, 2013...  (if the links above don't work try this one below) http://solawriters.org/2013/06/03/self-editing-workshop-why-should-you-join-us-liz-pelletier-lets-you-in-on-a-secret/

I hope to see you there!
~ Dawn Chartier

Erica Spindler, Sola-Writers August 2011 Speaker

Sola-Writers speaker for August 20th.

Presentation: Erica's 5 Must Have Elements For A Killer Thriller

Erica Spindler is an International and New York Times bestselling author of 28 novels. Her latest thriller, WATCH ME DIE, is in stores now. Published in 25 countries, her work has been lauded as "terrific twisted tales" "packed with authentic detail" and "must-reads for suspense fans." Erica lives just outside of New Orleans with her husband and her two sons.



The meeting is this Saturday, August 20th, beginning at 10am. We meet at the east bank branch of the Jefferson Parish Library in Metairie.

Thought to Plot with Mary Buckham ~ Workshop

This day long workshop sounds great. I signed up all ready. Wanna join me?

The Southern Louisiana Romance Writers invite writers of all genres to join them for a day long workshop with Mary Buckham on October 29th, 2011. Take your THOUGHT TO PLOT with this award-winning author.

When: October 29, 2011

Time: 8am-4pm, lunch included

Place: Hilton Garden Inn, 4535 Williams, Blvd, Kenner, LA

Cost: $75 SOLA members, $80 all others.

Registration Deadline: September 30, 2011

FROM THOUGHT TO PLOT

In the full-day THOUGHT TO PLOT writing craft workshop, national writing instructor, Mary Buckham will show you how to develop a budding idea BEFORE you begin to plot. This is a brainstorming workshop where she will show you where a story and characters break down before you get to the point of plotting. The backbone of a strong story begins with developing these critical points in the early stages of brainstorming so that you aren’t trying to “shore” up your story later.

Most stories fall apart because once a writer has invested a significant amount of work in a story it’s much harder to back up and make changes so they press ahead, shoving support wherever they can. For this reason, come to this workshop with a “NEW” idea you have not fully developed to the point where the idea of making any change is stressful. This workshop is to show you how to take ideas and spin them to be fresh and different, yet with a strong plot infrastructure.

We are a chapter of RWA, but this workshop is suitable for all genres.

Mary Buckham
Mary Buckham is an award-winning romantic-suspense author who, before becoming published in book-length fiction was a freelance article writer, selling hundreds of articles to local, regional, and national publications. In addition, she’s been an editor of a regional magazine. She is also co-author of Break Into Fiction™: 11 Steps to Building a Story That Sells. Mary is a sought-after speaker and writing craft teacher for both online and in live presentations throughout the United States and Canada. For more on Mary go to www.MaryBuckham.com or www.BreakIntoFiction.com

To sign up go to WWW.SOLAWRITERS.COM Find the workshop register button on the right side.

I'll see you in October!

Dawn Chartier

Sola's Guest Speaker ~ Agent, Laura Bradford

On March 19th SOLA-RWA'S (New Orleans Romance Writers Group) Guest Speaker is agent, Laura Bradford. Ms. Bradford will give the presentation, "How To Catch Flies: On Professionalism & Choosing Your Own Business Reputation." (See her bio below.)

Laura Bradford established the Bradford Literary Agency in 2001. She considers herself an editorial-focused agent and takes a hands-on approach to developing proposals and manuscripts with her authors for the most appropriate markets. The mission of Bradford Literary Agency is to form true partnerships with their clients and build long-term relationships that extend from writing the first draft through the length of the author’s career. Her recent sales include books placed with Berkley, Grand Central, Harlequin/Silhouette, Kensington, Simon and Schuster, HarperCollins, Sourcebooks, Hyperion, Flux, Macmillan, Adams Media and Mira Books.

She continues to actively build her client list and is currently seeking work in the following genres: Romance (historical, romantic suspense, paranormal, category, contemporary, erotic), urban fantasy, women’s fiction, mystery, thrillers and young adult as well as some select non-fiction.

She is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives (AAR) and Romance Writers of America and she is an RWA-recognized agent.

This is going to be a great presentation and I hope you can attend.

For more information on time and place, please visit www.solawriters.org

Dawn
www.dawnchartier.com

Sola Writers January speaker is Shirley Jump.

Come and visit Sola's next author speaker on January 15th 2011 @ 10am:





New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shirley Jump spends her days writing women’s fiction and romantic comedies (Vegas Pregnancy Surprise, July 2010) to feed her shoe addiction and avoid cleaning the toilets. As AJ Whitten (www.ajwhitten.com), she also writes horror young adult novels for Houghton Mifflin’s Graphia imprint with her daughter (The Well, September 2009). She cleverly finds writing time by feeding her kids junk food, allowing them to dress in the clothes they find on the floor and encouraging the dogs to double as vacuum cleaners. Visit her website at www.shirleyjump.com or read recipes and life adventures at www.shirleyjump.blogspot.com.

For info on location please visit: www.solawriters.org

Thanks and I hope to see you there.
Dawn Chartier
www.dawnchartier.com

Sola Writers Meeting - 9-18-10

For information about the Sola's September writers meeting on Saturday please visit www.solawriters.org ---- Hope to see you there....

Thanks,
Dawn Chartier
NOT AN ANGEL, OUT NOW!
WWW.DAWNCHARTIER.COM

First 5 Pages Contest - Sola RWA

I've been meaning to promote this writers contest, but I've been a little busy.

Anyway my local RWA (Sola) chapter is holding a writers contest and it's a wonderful opportunity to get feedback on your first 5 pages. The entry fee is cheap $15.00 (I believe) and the knowledge you learn is very valuable. Go to the website to find more information. Several unpublished authors are now published because of the great feedback from authors.

http://www.solawriters.org

Good luck to those who enter.
Dawn

SOLA'S July meeting presenter is Dr. Jeffrey Long - Near-Death experiences

At Sola's July writers meeting Dr. Jeffrey Long will discuss his research in the area of "near-death" experiences. (See bio below)

Jeffrey Long, MD is a physician practicing the specialty of radiation oncology, which is the use of radiation to treat cancer, at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC. Dr. Long completed medical school and did his radiation oncology training at the University of Iowa. He moved here from Gallup, New Mexico where he practiced radiation oncology and also worked extensively, both professionally and in public service, with the Navajo Nation. Dr. Long lives in Houma and practices there full-time.

In addition to Dr. Long’s professional interests, he has an interesting hobby. Over 10 years ago he began studying near-death experiences. He recently published his research findings in the book “Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences”, which became a New York Times bestseller.

Dr. Long has discussed near-death experiences extensively with the media in the past, including appearances on ABC Evening News with Peter Jennings, NBC Morning Show, The O’Reilly Factor, Discovery Health, and The Learning Channel. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and Time.com. In Houma, Dr. Long is a member of the Rotary and is participating this year in Leadership Terrebonne. He has given a number of community talks on both cancer and his research that led to his book.

The findings are presented in his groundbreaking book.

SOLA’s July meeting begins at 10am on July 17th, 2010 at the East bank branch of the Jefferson Parish Library at 4747 Napoleon Avenue in Metairie, LA.

Hope to see y'all there.
Dawn Chartier

Sola Writers - March Presentation by Mary Lou Widmer "Researching The Historical Romance"

Speaker for Sola-Writers March 20th meeting is Mary Lou Widmer.....

Mary Lou Widmer is a native of New Orleans, a former teacher, historian, and twelve-times published author. She taught in the high schools of New Orleans for 16 years and worked in the business world before retiring to devote herself to writing.
Her first romantic historical novel,Night Jasmine, published by Dell in 1980, is still popular today. It has been on summer reading lists of several girls high schools for years. Her screenplay of this novel has twice been optioned for movie rights and is presently under consideration by a local producer.
Taking a course at UNO in the history of New Orleans, she met and formed a partnership with the teacher Joan Garvey, with whom she co-authored Beautiful Crescent, A History of New Orleans,
an ongoing best-seller in bookstores for 25 years, a textbook in local Metro Colleges and the Cabildo tour guide classes. The two teacher/historians also co-authored Louisiana, the First 300 Years.
In 1985, Berkley published her second romantic historical novel, Lace Curtain, about the Irish coming to New Orleans to dig a six-mile canal, 20, 000 of whom perished with Yellow Fever.
In 1989, Widmer wrote a hard-cover illustrated coffee-table book entitled New Orleans in the Thirties. Pelican released it and asked her to write a second nostalgia book about the Forties, then the Fifties, and thus a retrospective series was born. In the six-book series, the reader finds a panoramic view of life in New Orleans in the 20th century.
Widmer’s latest release is a hard-cover historical romance called The View from Rampart Street set in New Orleans in the 1840s, dealing with a system called placage, in which beautiful young quadroons were trained all their lives to be mistresses to white Creole gentlemen. It is presently available at bookstores, on Amazon.com. and on her web.
Widmer, an avid genealogist, has traced her ancestry back to a soldier who fought in the Battle of New Orleans. She is a member of The Daughters of 1812 and the Louisiana Colonials. She is also a former president of SOLA.
Mary Lou lives in the Lakeview section of New Orleans with her husband Al. She is the mother of two and the grandmother of four.

We hope to see you there,
Dawn Chartier

SOLA'S WRITERS MEETING - JANUARY 2010 - BARBARA COLLEY

I hope everyone had a great holiday and New Year! I know I did, but I'm sure glad it's done with. Now the kids are back in school and I can write again. Yippie...

Now on to the purpose of my blog....I'd like to invite those in the New Orleans area to come to Sola's January meeting. We have the talented author, Barbara Colley doing a presentation on writing. So bring your questions and she'll answer them.

Here's Barbara's bio and I hope to see you Saturday, January 16th, at the East Bank Regional Library. 10am....

Barbara Colley, a native of Louisiana , is an award-winning, best-selling author of sixteen novels. Her books have been published in over seventeen foreign languages. In addition to her romantic suspense novels, she is also the author of the widely acclaimed Charlotte LaRue mystery series that's set in the New Orleans Garden District and features a maid who not only cleans Garden District mansions, but solves murders as well.

Barbara has won many awards as a published writer including: a nomination by Romantic Times BookClub for the 2003 Reviewer's Choice Award for Maid For Murder, her first Charlotte LaRue mystery, and the 1996 Distinguished Artist Award (for her outstanding contributions to the literary arts in Louisiana ). In March 2005, Barbara was named "Leading Business Woman of the Week" in the metro New Orleans area by Magic 101.9 radio station.

Writing under her pseudonym Anne Logan, her romantic suspense novel, Gulf Breezes, won the 1992 Oklahoma RWA National Reader's Choice Award. Gulf Breezes also garnered the 1992 RWA Published Author Network ARTemis Award for it’s outstanding cover art.

A sought-after speaker, Barbara has lectured writing classes at Louisiana State University , has taught a writing course with the St. Charles Parish Continuing Education Program, and has been the guest speaker for many writers’ conferences.

Dusted to Death, book number eight of her Charlotte LaRue mystery series, is available now in most bookstores or can be ordered on-line.

For more about Barbara and her books, go to her web site: www.barbaracolley.com

"Keep it Clean!"Barbara Colleywww.barbaracolley.comAvailable NOW -- Dusted to Death


Hope to see you at our first meeting of 2010. If you are serious about writing, why not join others who know exactly how you feel......

Dawn Chartier
www.dawnchartier.com
NOT AN ANGEL, coming soon from The Wild Rose Press
www.thewildrosepress.com

K-Con 2009 was a great time, including the cute naked butt!

K-Con started on a Friday afternoon were I had lunch with Debbie, Cheryle and Jenn at Commanders Palace. Food, service and company were all awesome.

After that, I had to run back across the river to visit my mom in ICU. She was doing well, but they wanted to watch her for a few more hours just in case.

Then I went back to the hotel, signed up, and then hung out in the hospitality suite for a few hours. I volunteered with the ladies mentioned above to help with incoming fans, etc. After our deal was over, we were in the hall way and Debbie asked a very good looking man to pose with her for our treasure hunt picture. He did along with his friend who ended up taking his pants off and mooning us. Only in New Orleans!! (What is that you ask? Um, yeah it was a nice cute butt.) Deb has pictures to prove it.

The next morning I picked up Barbara Vey, Deb, Cheryle, and Jenn and we went to Cafe' Du Monde' in the Quarter. We had messy beignets, cafe' au lait, and I had hot chocolate. Yep, we made a mess. (go to Barbara Vey's blog at publishersweekly.com and you'll see us in her pictures pigging out - de-lish..). Not sure if you know it but Barbara Vey reviews books and such, and she shares tons of info on conferences too. Her site is a must.

Next we had to rush back for Diana Love's class, we made it just in time. Barbara then announced my new contract for my novel "Not An Angel". I need to get use to this, because I know my face must have turned red, purple, blue, and red again. It was sure hot as hell.

Then there was the League party. Everyone in costumes. Think, Terminator style... Lots of assassins and such... Next up was the dinner...they had so many people show up we ended up eating in the hall, but it didn't matter, we had a blast...Sherri's just a popular gal...and by the time desert came, we had more tables in the dining room.

Once we moved into the main room, Sherri was giving little gifts to all her helpers and she called me and Deb to go up there and get our gifts. I hugged Sherri, and then Diana Love tells her the news. So then Sherrilyn proceeds to announce to approx. 200 people my book news. I know, you want to know if I fainted right?? Actually, not that I can remember....(grin) I held it together, but after that, its all a blur. (grin)...

There was Q&A's with Sherri, and she gave away some top secrets to some future novels, but we were sworn to secrecy. Then my time ended after the Dark-Hunter tour. I had to visit my mom who was now moved into the regular hospital. I didn't go back on Sunday for the brunch, too much going on, but my mom sure got a kick out of my K-Con experience as did I.

Hugs,
Dawn

SEPTEMBER SOLA-RWA SPEAKER - STEVEN SCAFFIDI

Join Sola on Saturday the 19th at 11:00am for a presentation by Steven Scaffidi. The focus of the presentation will be on screen writing. The information below is from his website. Hope to see you there!!! (p.s. The meeting will be back at the library on West Napoleon)

Ghost Rider Pictures was established in 1990, with a singular vision of producing thought-provoking and entertaining films and television programs. Early on, Ghost Rider established itself as one of the leading production companies in the South, producing films for The United States Marine Corps, Pioneer Entertainment, General Motors, Monsanto Agricultural Company, Exxon, Chevron, Pan American Life and banks across America..

Company founder, Steven Scaffidi, is known for producing, directing, and shooting many award-winning films and documentaries, most recently, his documentary feature, FORGOTTEN ON THE BAYOU: Rockey’s Mission to the White House www.forgottenonthebayou.com. The film received the prestigious Humanitarian Vision Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival and won for Best Documentary Feature Film at the Moondance International Film Festival in Hollywood, the First Glance Philadelphia Film Festival and the Ozone Film Festival and was a finalist at the Palm Beach Film Festival. Steven has been represented out of Los Angeles by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and has created and sold original programs to New Line and Atlas Enterprises.

His latest project is currently with Rebel Entertainment and in development with Emmy Award-Winning Producer Scott Messick who is one of the original producers of Survivor.Ghost Rider Pictures also produced the award-winning documentary, THE PEOPLE'S STORY: The Devastation of Central America, and was the first U.S. production company to land in Honduras following Hurricane Mitch. The film was recognized as a winner at the New York, Houston and Telluride Independent Film Festivals and was a finalist in the 2000 Academy Awards.

Steven has unique flair for storytelling and has extensive experience working with actors and real people. His latest dramatic feature film stars a real warden and a real death row inmate that pushes the envelope in casting. EXECUTION www.executionfilm.com is based on his original screenplay which follows the final seven days of a condemned man’s life on death row.

This is an extraordinary and haunting film that puts the audience closer to an actual execution by electric chair than any film ever made.

(Come join us Saturday, met Steven and learn more on screen writing....)

Dawn Chartier

Sola RWA August Writers Meeting - New Orleans, LA

For the August 15th Sola meeting our presenter will be Tolley Thompson, Psychic.

Tolley will offer insight and tales from the supernatural world of psychic communication sure to stimulate many "novel" ideas.

Meeting location for August will be at Piccadilly - 2222 Clearview Pkwy - Metairie, LA

See you there.

Dawn Chartier
Fantasy on the Rocks!

Sola Writers Meeting - July 18th - Self Editing Help!

For our July's writers meeting we are having author/free-lance editor, Marie Goodwin present "Beyond the Commas: The Pleasures and Perils of Self-Editing."

Marie Goodwin, a 28 year Sola-RWA member and former Program Chair, has recently launched her editing website at madaboutbooksmarie.com. Marie holds a MFA in Creative Writing from LSU. She has written the Sola Grammar Queen column for the past five years. Drawing on her expertise in writing and editing, Marie will share tips on how to write for the market in this July Sola presentation.

Hope to see you there.

Dawn

Writing Contest - Deadline July 15th - Sola-RWA

Are you a new writer? Have you been writing a while but with no feedback? Are you curious what other's think about your writing, but your too scared to put your work out there?

Well, here is the great part of Sola's Writers Contest. No one needs to know it's your writing. You can enter the contest under a made up name. You'll get awesome feedback from professional writers and published authors. What more could you ask for, well if it's great then it could go in front a agent and/or a New York publisher.

All you need is the first 5 pages (that's easy!) and a 1 page synopsis (synopsis is not judged so if you don't know how to write one, then don't worry about it. Just say this is my Hero's goal, motivation and this is what stops him from getting it. Same thing with the heroine.)

So, the deadline for this contest is now July 15th 2009 - They extended because they need more entrees, that means yours has a better chance at winning!! If it doesn't win, then you still have feedback on your writing from someone who has no idea who you are..........

So there! Enter the contest..........go to www.solawriters.org and look for the Dixie Kane writers contest button and enter........Just Do It!!

Dawn

Diana Rowland Book Signing in Mandeville, LA - Sola Member

On Saturday June 27, SOLA member Diana Rowland will be signing her break out novel, Mark of the Demon, at Barnes and Noble in Mandeville from 2 to 4pm.

Excerpt:

When Homicide Detective Kara Gillian finds traces of arcane power on a body, she quickly realizes that this is no ordinary murder. The serial killer known as the Symbol Man is a nightmare that Beaulac, Louisiana thought had ended three years ago, but now he's back for an encore and leaving every indication on the flesh of his victims that he is well-versed in demonic lore.

However, Kara is a Summoner of Demons, and may be the only cop on the city's small force who can stop the killer. Able to see and interact with a world most people can't, Kara must draw on her skills as a police officer and master of the arcane to stop the Symbol Man from killing again and possibly summoning something even she can't control.

But with a demonic lord of unearthly beauty and power haunting her dreams, and a handsome yet disapproving FBI agent dogging her waking footsteps, she may be in way over her head....
Learn more about Diana on her website at http://www.dianarowland.com/index.html

I can't wait to get my hands on this book, been waiting a long time...

Dawn

Today's Sola RWA meeting - June 2009

Today we had Cally Chauvin, paranormal investigator as our monthly speaker.
Oh how do I love anything paranormal. Cally spoke of her experiences with ghost and sometimes non-ghost. (meaning she didn't find any).

She spoke of how Ormond Plantation is one haunted Plantation, I'm going to look into staying there over night. Nope, I won't sleep, I'll be up all night too afraid to close my eyes....

She said she experienced a ghost sighting in St. Francisville at a Church. I've been around that church just this past March. I'm pretty sure it's haunted, you could almost feel it walking through the grave yard. (The grave yard is HUGE!) and beautiful....

Cally passed around some equipment she uses, many items are used by electricians. I'm sure I could get my hands on one of those, but do I really want to know if a ghost is hanging around me? No. I'm a little nervous to find that out....although I would love for her to come to my home and explore the possibilities that maybe we might have a ghost or two hanging around.

I won't go into any details, but I have experienced "something", not sure what, but just something I couldn't put a finger on....know what I mean??

Anyway, our group loved listening to Cally and her experiences, and I think I might take her class at a local college along with another fellow writer....I'll keep you posted how that goes....

Now, back to writing my paranormal stories........

p.s. If anyone is still interested in Sola's writing contest, the new deadline is July 15th!!! Get your 5 pages in...........

Dawn

Sola Writers - More info on June's speaker - Cally Chauvin

Sola writers presenter for June 20th is:

Cally Chauvin presents “Hauntings In Louisiana”

Cally is Bayou Spirits founder and a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in Lafourche Parish. She has led many investigations during the last 5 years and has formed this group to further her knowledge and understanding of the paranormal. Her specialty is teaching people techniques used in investigations.

The Bayou Spirits team brings over 15 years experience in the field.

Bayou Spirits is a team of professional paranormal investigators who want to get back to the basics of Ghost Hunting.

I know I won't miss this meeting. I love all things paranormal, especially hauntings..
Meeting: June 20th at 10am...
East Bank Jefferson Parish Library (W. Napoleon Ave. Metairie, LA)

See you there.
Dawn

Sola Writers June 2009 Meeting - Cally Chauvin - Paranormal Investigator

On June 20th (Saturday) @ 10am, Sola will present Cally Chauvin, paranormal investigator.
I will post more on the subject when I receive the details.

Writers, readers, etc. we welcome to 2 meetings for free.

Dawn Chartier

Sola's Writers May Meeting - Kathy Love and Erin McCarthy

Just wanted to thank Kathy and Erin for coming to New Orleans for the Sola writers May meeting. We all enjoyed getting to know our characters on a deeper level!

Come back and visit us soon.......

Dawn